A Couple of Fall Projects

I have wanted to make an advent calendar that was not about Santa Claus.  so for about 3 yeas plus I have been thinking about how to do this.  using the Greg Olson picture of Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem as my inspiration I have finally made a calendar.  It was a challenging project as I had to figure out everything as I went along.  So with this introduction here is the finished project. The things that looks like mountains above the calendar are sofa pillows.  I do think they add to the image.  I hope my grandchildren will have fun with it for many years.  Joseph, Mary, and the donkey slide along strings one number per day.



Some very good friends of mine needed a wedding-cake for their sons wedding.  Not just any old wedding cake but a french wedding cake since the bride was from France.  I wasn't too keen on the project since it involved caramelized sugar and spun sugar which I had never been able to do very well.  But Trevor  overheard me turning it down and immediately challenged my decision.  He looked up on the internet how to do spun sugar and told me that if "that woman on the video" could do it so could I.  Needless to say I called my friend back and said I would do it specially after seeing what the bakeries were offering.  It was about a 30 hour project and the boys got involved with the technical side of making it so it would be able to be transported without falling apart.  I forgot to mention the wedding was 2 days after thanksgiving.  Anyway my friends were very happy with the finished result and here are some pictures of how we made it:

  this last picture is the underpinnings for adding the cream puffs.  the cake was just short of 1 yard tall.  My 4 year old grandson got up early and a checked the frosting while we were all asleep, but we were able to repair it.

The blisters on my hand from the caramelized sugar are almost healed up and I learned a new skill and Trevor and I had a fun experience making someone happy.  

Gideon Max Beal

Friday the 29th of October was a special day I have been looking forward to for some time.  Holly had her 4th baby a boy named Gideon.  Unfortunately I still don't have a camera so for pictures go to Team Beal blog.  He is beautiful or handsome as the case may be with lots of very dark hair.  He seems good natured and likes to just look around very pensive.  Holly is fine thank goodness.  The other children were very cute when they came to see the new baby. 
Holly asked if I would come and stay with her Sunday morning while the family was in church.  I can see why she likes someone in the room, when she has just had major surgery and it is difficult to get to the baby in a hurry.  We had a nice time and I gave her the presents I had for her and the baby.  About 5 min before I was to leave Holly noticed Gideon waving is arms all over  the place.  First she though he was just moving, but then realized he was in trouble.  I was able to get to him fast and see he was choking and able to suction him out and get the stuff out of his throat.  I can see why she wants someone in the room with her.  I was so glad I was there.  Always listen to a mothers intuition.  Congratulations Holly and Jason on your latest addition.

Hazelnut Biscotti

This recipe has a history.  On 9/11 2001 I woke up about 8:30 am.  My phone rang it was Jason who wanted  to know if I knew where all my children were.  As he talked the picture on my TV was beginning to make sense.  A couple of hours later my niece Sarah Beal who had just moved to the DC area.  Called she told me her room mate had been running near the Pentagon when the plane hit.  They were both scared and Sarah wanted to know if she could come out and stay with me till we knew what was going on.
So Sarah and I watched all the horrible pictures together.  After we had spent most of the day looking at destruction we decided it was time to do something constructive.  So I suggested we try make these biscotti I had seen a recipe for in a new cook book I had just received.  It is Italian Farmhouse cook book.
We made the cookies and decided we liked them.  Initially I thought they were very dry and probably would not make them again, but they have a way of making you come back for more.  I think people usually dunk these in coffee, but dunking in milk is also good.  I have doubled the recipe because otherwise they disappear too fast.
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
12 TBsp butter
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
4 large eggs and 2 egg yolks
2 cups toasted hazelnuts skins removed coarsely chopped
Cream the butter then add the sugar and vanilla and beat till light.  Add eggs and yolks.  Now add the flour with salt and baking powder mixed in,  mix in at low speed till just folded in.  Now add the coarsely chopped nuts.
Preheat oven to 350F.   Dough is very soft so handle carefully.  Flour table and shape dough into a ball.  Separate dough into 4 separate balls.  Shape each peace into 12 in long logs.  Slightly flatten them.
Bake for about 25 minutes or till slightly browned.  Cool for about 10-15 min.  Now slice logs diagonally into 1/2 in slices and place back on cookie sheets.  With oven still at 350F  bake the  slices for 15 min and if necessary turn them over and  brown other side.  They should be a nice golden brown.  If you make them too dark the nuts will get a bitter flavor.  After they have cooled place in an air tight jar and enjoy.

Old Friends In Texas

I just returned from a short trip to Texas.  I have a friend there, The chair woman of my AFS exchange student committee.  We have known each other for almost 50 years.  So I thought it would be a good idea to get together before either of us run out of time.
My friend is amazing she will be 87 next month.  She still helps run her family business.  She drives a red Jaguar, and is interested in many things and people.  The only concession I can see she has made to old age is that she walks a little slower, and takes a nap in the afternoon.
We had a couple of very busy days.  The day I arrived we went to their Marina for lunch and later that evening we went to dinner at a very nice restaurant run by a real Italian.  She belongs to a birthday club and instead of giving each other silly presents they collect a donation at each dinner.  The money goes to buy clothes for needy students.   It was a very lively group.  I haven't been in Texas
for over 10 years, and I had forgotten how friendly and outgoing Texans are.  The next day we drove to Dallas to visit the art complex.  We made 3 different museums and had lunch.  That evening we took in a movie: " Wall street 2".
My last day we went to a super senior recreation center at 6:30 am.  It was beautiful and all on a Texas scale.  A regular spa would be proud to own this place.  Later that morning we went to Arlington to see the new Cowboy stadium.  It was really worth a trip.  I could not believe we were allowed to walk on the playing field.  There were helpful guides all over to explain or answer any questions we might have.
Then we drove to Ft. Worth to see some of their art museums, but due to time restrains we only managed to get lunch.  The museums were beautiful and we will have to see them next time I come down.  We also drove by a theater that was rebuilt in an art deco style.
We ran out of time because I had to get on a flight and go home.  I am really glad I went down there and renewed our friendship.  I had a very good time.

Ode to Legos

Anyone who has been to my house with children know what an enormous amount of legos we have.  Also most of my children have followed this pattern of giving legos to their children.  If you have legos you will identify with this:  You just finished picking up ALL the Legos and put the container away, and then you start to find them in different places.  So after doing this one day I wrote this little ode to legos.  Please keep in mind I have never had any instruction on how to write poetry, but maybe some of you will identify with my sentiments.

Legos those wonderful plastic blocks that come in all sizes, colors, and shapes.
Legos that help our children develop their creativity and imagination.
Legos the toy that keep children occupied for hours on end.
Legos that make parents spend hours picking them up and organizing them AGAIN.
Legos that get on the table and under the table.
Legos that hide in the furniture and under the carpet.
Legos in my bed and under it.
Legos in the laundry and in the wash.
Legos in the shower and in the tub.
Legos on the floor and under my feet - OUCH
Legos in the kitchen
Legos in the fridge
Legos in the car
Legos in my hair
Legos--- If I see another Lego today I will SCREAM.

RECIPIES

A couple of years ago I got a piece of this cake from an Austrian friend of mine.  I really like the cake because it is very light and not overly sweet and you can use fruit in it that is getting too ripe.
Plum Cake
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup oil
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup sifted flour
2 tsp baking powder
Beat eggs and sugar till light and fluffy.  Add oil and beat again.  Now by hand stir in the flour and baking powder mixture.
pour into a greased form a little smaller than 9x13 or I used a 10 in diameter pan with a high edge.  After you put the dough into the pan, put sliced plums all over the top of the cake.  Don't panic if they sink into the batter.  Pears are also good for this or peaches.  Bake at 375 F for 40 min or till toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.  Make sure you don't stick it into a peace of fruit.  Sprinkle the cake with powdered sugar.
THE SALAD DRESSING  So called by Natalie.  Melinda also asked for this recipe so here it is:
2T vinegar, 2 T lemon juice, 1/4 - 1/3 cup olive oil, 1 T water, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp sugar, 1 clove garlic crushed, salt and pepper to taste.
Wisk everything together.  If you keep this in the fridge the oil will harden so take it out a little before you need it.

Cooperstown NY

Early August Spencer and I drove to Cooperstown NY.  It was a beautiful ride about 4 hrs in each direction.  Once we got off the highway  we had to follow secondary county roads which led us through some very beautiful landscape, but sometimes was a little difficult to figure out.  Once we got to our motel on the edge of lake Otsvego and dropped our luggage, we went directly to the Baseball Hall of Fame building.  Spencer is a wonderful baseball player and has been able to his a baseball since he was very small.  This was his early birthday present.  We took a thorough look at all the exhibits and I believe Spencer really enjoyed it.  We decided not to waste our money in their very overpriced gift shop and instead walked up the street where there were lots of shops selling baseball memorabilia at much lower prices.  Spencer decided to get a baseball bat at the bat shop.  The baseball bats are made locally and the price included 2 lines of engraving.  I thought he made a very good choice and his parents had given me extra money so we could buy it.  We watched a baseball game at a diamond they have close to the Museum.  It was just local amateur teams playing.  It was fun just to sit and relax and watch the game.  Spencer got a foul ball.
  In the evening at our motel Spencer got to watch a real professional game on tv.  The next day we drove out to the Fennimore Cooper Museum.  They have a very nice exhibit of beautiful Indian artifacts.  Spencer really enjoyed that.  I was surprised to see that he enjoyed the museum as much as he did.  They also had exhibits on folk art and a visiting exhibit of women painted by Stuart.  I really like that.  The museum is located right on the shores of the lake and has a beautiful view.
We drove back to our motel and went down to the lake and took a boat tour up and down the lake.  It was just beautiful and they told us about the lake and the history of the town.  After the boat tour it was time to drive home.  We decided to take route 28 all the way to the highway.  It went right through the Catskill mountains  and it was a beautiful trip.  It was nice to do something one on one with Spencer.
We did take some pictures but they will not display on my computer, so maybe Emily will show them on her blog.

Family Events April Through July 2010

We had several important and fun activities this spring and summer.
First we had Shania and Sarah's Sealing to their parents.  Unfortunately Sarah got sick the night before so only Shania was sealed.  Quincy and Natalie, Melinda and Matt, Me, Cousin Catherine and her husband Mike all came for the event from our side of the family.  I came up to the temple with Carl's family and grandpa stayed home with Sarah.  It was great to be part of this important event for Shania.  Hopefully it won't be too long before we can do the same for  Sarah.

 Here we are on the train we took to the subway.

Next, the end of May we celebrated Elijah and Jonas's birthdays.  Jason and Holly had gone all out and rented a room at the Vienna community center, and set it up with all kinds of inflatable bouncing toys and obstical courses.  Holly had made capes for all the children and there were at least 30 children.
They had all these games planned for them and then cake an water for the refreshments.  Elijah and Jonas got enough presents to make it look like Christmas.  It was really a fun party and both Holly and Jason had done a wonderful job.

Here you can see some of Holly's handy work. 

One of the blow up toys acting as an obstacle course.

Jason rescuing Eden.

All good things must come to an end, so tired parents can go home and collapse after all the exertion.  Here Quincy is giving a helping hand to speed up the process.  I am sure the cape around his heck gave him extra powers.

Then I went up to New Jersey to hear Spencer's  and Theresa's end of school concerts.  They always put on a great program and this year was no exception.  They each had their separate concerts.  It is difficult to take pictures in the dark and with that many people so you will have to excuse that the picture isn't  very good.

Spencer's head is to the left of the C.  They used the same set for both concerts.  Both Spencer and Theresa did very well in their performances.  I am already looking forward to next year.

At home Sarah and Shania also wanted to show of what they had learned in their gymnastics class.  They put on a very nice performance.

Then it was Tatum's birthday her very first.  Natalie's friend had made a beautiful birthday cake that matched Tatum's dress.

Here you have the birthday girl with her parents and her cake.

Her very own cake before she demolished it.  Also Natalie's parent's were there so it was a special birthday.

I had been promising Doug since Christmas that he could come down to stay with me for a few days when he was completely toilet trained.  He became toilet trained and we finally found a time when he could visit.  We had a very nice time together.  He really liked being the center of attention.  and he was very good and fun to have.  On Monday we went in to the The Natural History Museum in DC.  We went by bus and train, which in it self was a treat for him.  We went to see the dinosaurs which he liked, but I think he enjoyed the rock collection even better.  It is amazing how beautiful inanimate objects can be.  We also saw the butterfly exhibit which he enjoyed.   We went to the gift shop to get a souvenir for him, but it was interesting that the first one he wanted to buy for was his Mother then me and then himself.  We did find a nice lunch box for him which he wanted because he could use it when he started school this fall .

Here he is on the train.  He picked out his outfit.

He was more interested in a picture of his "bum" than one of the dinosaurs, so here it is. Enjoy.

He loved this geode of amethysts.   He was allowed to sit on it which he did.

This one was my favorite.

 

Here are the some of the butterflies.
On Tuesday we went to the farm with his cousins and saw all the baby animals.

Petting the goats.

How do you like polka dotted piglets?

We were lucky to see the peacock spread his feathers.  And of course a tractor ride is a must before we go.  We actually walked through the woods in both directions at Doug's request.

The most popular exhibit.  Then the next day it was back to Delaware.  Thanks for coming Doug.  It was fun having you.

It was Eden's 2nd birthday on July 24th and I did manage to get a couple of dresses made for her.  Unfortunately when Melinda's 3 oldest came to stay with me at the beginning of July and we went to the pool, There was leaking bottle of water in my bag and my camera got wet and it doesn't work.  therefore I can not illustrate my blogs till I can afford to buy a new camera.
Melinda and Matt finally went on a trip to celebrate their 10th anniversary.  Charles, Emma, and Mary stayed with me for a few days.  We had a good time.  We went to the American history museum, went swimming every day.  Made clothes for dolls, played with legos and watched videos.  It was great having them.  Then Friday they went to their other grandmother, and Sunday night their grandfather brought all 5 back to me, till Melinda came around noon on Monday and stayed till  Thursday.  She helped me paint the downstairs bedroom and with out me knowing it They took all the legos home and finished the sorting job, Trevor started and brought them back Sunday all organized and all bins labeled.
Right now I am in the process of redecorating the downstairs.  It is going a little slow, but it is coming as I have the money.  Trevor has been a great help with the project.

Trip to Denmark for My aunt's 90th Birthday

The Birthday Girl Anina Pedersen.  She is 90 and still mentally alert and gets around on her little motorized scooter.  She has been helping me with genealogy over many years.  I think she has always felt she was my second mother.  After my mother died she has taken it upon herself to keep the cousins in touch with each other.

This is Mogens my brother in law.  We don't get too many pictures of him because he is always behind the camera.  He and my sister put together a beautiful film about my aunts life and also made a photo album for her of her party.

Two of my sisters: Carla in the corner and my youngest sister Ulla in front.

My sister Anni talking to my aunt in her living room.

Picture from the party at the inn.

We spent the night with my cousin Aase and her husband.  They have a small farm, and we were treated to a tour of the animals and the peach trees etc.  A very nice place.  My sister Carla is in the background.

This is the closest I could get to get a picture of all three of my sisters.  This is at my sister Anni's apartment.

After we returned from Jutland. Carla had to go check on her horse.  While she did that I had fun taking pictures of sheep and lambs.  It  was the lamming season and there were little lambs everywhere.

There were so many it was hard to get a picture of them all.  It was fun to see the little lambs poke the utters of their mothers so the milk would let down.  Then when the mothers were tired of the lambs sucking they would just walk off.

We found out it was possible to go in and see the section of Amalienborg palace that is being remodeled for the Crown-prince and his family to live in.  It closes in July when they move in.  We went in to see it the day before I went home.  It was interesting to see they way they had renovated the place.  The Crown prince couple likes modern art and they had had different artists paint murals on the walls of several of the rooms.  I don't know what they will do if they get tired of some of the pictures.  My favorite room was the big state dining room.  They had big panels of mirrors that were made to look like frost flowers.  It was very elegant.  Of course we could only see the public rooms not their private quarters.   The Queen lives in one of the other buildings in the palace.   There are four buildings surrounding a large square.  The palace in right in the center of Copenhagen.

Top picture is of Carla and her son Kenneth in front of the Queens palace.  Here Carla and I are in front of the one The Crown Prince will be occupying.  Note that the black windows are the windows into the Crown prince's office.  It is just a few feet off the sidewalk where anyone can come.  Isn't it refreshing not to have secret service people all over the place.

The palace is close to the harbor, and right across from it, is the new Danish Opera house.  Finally I have to make a remark about my trip home.  I had not been feeling well most of my time in Denmark and wanted to get home.  I had planned to go home on Thursday but the flights did not look good out of Copenhagen.  So I decided to go home on Wednesday.  My trip was uneventful. The first thing I heard on the news the next morning was that most of the European airports were closed because of  the volcanic dust from an Icelandic volcano.  Airports were closed for 5 days.  I feel someone was looking out for me.

Easter Egg Hunt At Farmor's

Everyone has big hopes of lots of candy judging from the size of their baskets.  Here we have the 3 musketeers: Elijah, Jonas, and Porter, stepping carefully so as not to step on the candy.

 

Jonas showing off his harvest of candy.  It should help him grow cavities for a while.



A cute little pink Bunnie making sure she gets her share of the candy.

Finally Easter egg treats for the adults on their dessert.  We did decide that we preferred the Cadbury eggs over the Williams Sonoma more expensive eggs. 

Spring events